Supervisor issue to appear on November ballot | News | Berkeley Independent

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Supervisor issue to appear on November ballot

Published Monday, August 04, 2008 4:39 PM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

Berkeley County Council approved the third reading of a referendum last week that will allow voters to decide which form of government they prefer, an elected supervisor or a council-appointed administrator.

The referendum will appear on the November ballot.

The referendum was passed despite opposition.

Speakers at the second public hearing included the area’s state senator, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, local clergy and former elected officials who voiced their opposition citing politics, personal bias, potentially disastrous costs, confusing verbiage and a possible deterrent to a much-needed penny sales tax that will share space on the same ballot this fall.

“Putting this on the ballot in November could deter from the penny sales tax option that we desperately need passed,” said Sen. Paul Campbell. “There are more pressing issues right now facing Berkeley County than how we are governed.”

Council member William Crosby again maintained that it is not council advocating one method of government over another, but giving voters the choice between the two.

“If the public feels the way you say, this situation will be addressed and we can put all this behind us,” he said. “If we don’t do anything and back off now, this situation will come up again.

“I say let’s address it, deal with it and put it to bed and move on. What’s wrong with allowing the people of Berkeley County to choose the form of government they want?”

Public opinion cited additional costs, accountability and putting personal vendettas ahead of the issues as reasons for opposing the referendum.

“The person you hire will have nine bosses,” said Jean Woods. “In the end the voter does the right thing and the voters will do the right thing with this referendum.”

Council member Jack Schurlknight, who again presented the motion that the referendum be denied, voiced concerns that the referendum will be challenged.

“I have all indication that it will be challenged,” he said. “This will cost the tax payers even more money, this coming after the Water and Sewer fixed rate mortgage loan mess that raised county water rates almost 30 percent, and after we took almost 29 percent of taxpayers’ Special Local Option Sales Tax money to use on capital improvement projects.”

Schurlknight’s motion was defeated by a 4-2 vote.

“I don’t think it’s good stewardship on behalf of our leadership to pursue this course of action,” said Richard Harkness. “There are more pressing issues in Berkeley County.”

Schurlknight accused members of council of falling prey to personal political differences and petty bias.

“The only people I hear wanting to put this on the ballot are the people sitting along this bench,” he said. “We need to put politics aside and put personal bias aside.”

Supervisor Dan Davis finally spoke out on the record, ending weeks of silence regarding the referendum and why it is suddenly a hot topic among council members.

“I just want it stated for the record that my making a campaign promise to do away with the county supervisor form of government is not accurate,” Davis said. “I said I would take a petition to the people to see if there was sufficient interest to propose a change. I went door to door as I said I’d do. There was no interest.”

Should the referendum pass in November, any change in county government won’t happen until 2010 when Davis finishes out this elected term of office.

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